Dyer Strikes Maiden SEC Century To Hand Seconds First Innings Lead
Thu 26 Jun 2025
By Pete Johnson
Leicestershire had an excellent day on day three of the Second Eleven Championship match against Essex, as trialist Colby Dyer (108*) hit a swashbuckling century to fire the Foxes into a first innings lead.
Dips Patel’s side notched a total of 490 in Billericay, with Jamie Dunk (78), Nick Green (70) and George Maddy (61) also in the runs, before Essex closed on 126-2, holding a lead of 109 runs going into the final day.
Leicestershire resumed on their overnight 196-4. Jamie Dunk (33*) George Maddy (9*). Dunk and Maddy brought up their 50 partnership from the second delivery of the morning.
In the 13th over of the morning, Maddy who had been demonstrating some textbook leaves, took seamer Tom Arnold for four fours in the over, all through the cover area.
From the first ball of the next over the diligent Dunk went to his 50 (7x4) 102b, when he drove a delivery from spinner Ali Zeb through the covers to the boundary, it also brought up the 100 partnership between Dunk and Maddy. Leicestershire on 248-4 from 72.1 overs.
Four overs later, the majestic Maddy went to his 50 (6x4) 88b, when he clipped Zeb for a single. Leicestershire on 266-4 from 76.5 overs. Essex took the new ball as soon as it became available, the dependable Dunk striking two boundaries from the first three deliveries of the new ‘cherry’ by the pacey Jamal Richards.
Leicestershire then lost three wickets in 17 balls just before lunch. Maddy (61) 122b was bowled by seamer Charlie Bennett to end a 144-run stand for the 5th wicket. Jay Madan (0) was then caught at the wicket to the next delivery, before Dunk (78) 143b was bowled by Bennett. Leicestershire into lunch on 301-7.
Dyer and Nick Green took on the Essex attack with vengeance after the restart. Green was finding the boundary regularly against the all seam attack, and went to his 50 (8x4) 55b, the score on 390-7 from 102.5 overs.
Three overs later, Dyer and Green brought up their 100 partnership (108b) for the 8th wicket. A fantastic effort from the pair who gave Leicestershire an excellent chance of taking maximum batting points, in addition to a first innings lead.
Dyer went to his 50 (7x4) 62b, but lost Green (70) 73b, who was bowled by left arm spinner Ben Lockrose. Dyer and Green having added a scintillating 142 runs (141b) for the 8th wicket. Green registering his highest SEC score. Leicestershire 443-8 from 111.3 overs.
Matt Salisbury (1) went lbw to Zeb, but it didn’t deter Dyer, who was on 83 at the start of the 117th over. He deposited the first three balls of Zeb’s over all for maximums in the long on/long off area to go to his 100 (11x4/4x6) 88b.
As if this wasn’t enough for ‘Dyer the Destroyer’, he then took another maximum from the 4th delivery, followed by a single from the 5th delivery. Ali Farooq (9) 8b was caught at mid off by Richards from the final delivery of Zeb’s over. Leicestershire 490 all out, leading by 17 runs. Dyer (108*) (11x4/4x6) 90b. Dyer also registering his highest SEC score.
A minimum of 38 overs remained in the day when Essex commenced their 2nd innings. Nick Green bowled the second over, and it was a double wicket maiden. Johnny Connell (0) caught in the backward square leg area by Liam Tew from Green’s first delivery, and from the 5th ball of the over Jamal Richards (0) was caught at second slip by Jay Madan.
Nick Browne and Simon Fernandes then saw Essex through to the close on 126-2 from 38 overs, a lead of 109 runs. Brown 79*, Fernandes 40*.
